I Believe I’m Back to My Prime in T20 Cricket

Mainul Islam

May 22, 2023

2.4 minutes

306

Author:

Mainul Islam

306

I Believe I’m Back to My Prime in T20 Cricket

Virat Kohli, the esteemed Indian cricketer, has sent a strong message ahead of the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. He confidently declares that he is currently at the pinnacle of his abilities and believes he is showcasing his finest form in T20 cricket. During the previous T20 World Cup in Australia, Kohli emerged as the tournament’s leading run-scorer. He amassed an impressive 296 runs for India, maintaining a remarkable average of 98.66 and a striking strike rate of over 136. With the competition intensifying as India’s young batsmen rise, Kohli was anticipated to face stiffer challenges in preparation for next year’s event in the Caribbean and USA.

However, the 34-year-old batsman exhibits no signs of slowing down, evident from his recent performances in the Indian Premier League. Kohli, while representing the Royal Challengers Bangalore, has amassed 639 runs in 14 matches, primarily as an opener. Notably, his most recent achievement was an unbeaten 101 off just 61 balls, even though his team failed to advance in the playoffs against the Gujarat Titans.

This remarkable century marked Kohli’s consecutive second in the IPL, and when questioned by former India coach Ravi Shastri about his performance, Kohli confidently responded, “Yes, I felt fantastic. Despite some opinions that my T20 cricket is on the decline, I personally don’t feel that way. In fact, I strongly believe that I am playing my best T20 cricket once again. I am thoroughly enjoying myself and embracing my natural game, which involves hitting gaps, scoring boundaries, and if the situation permits, launching the big shots towards the end.”

When it comes to strike rates and other similar aspects, I have always maintained that reading the situation and rising to the occasion is crucial. This is something I take great pride in and have been doing for quite some time now. I feel extremely confident about my current form and the way I am batting in the middle.

Virat Kohli is not the only seasoned campaigner who has performed exceptionally well at the top of the order for the Royal Challengers Bangalore this season. Faf du Plessis, the South African batsman, has also been in excellent touch, accumulating 730 runs and emerging as the tournament’s leading run-scorer.

Together, Kohli and du Plessis have amassed a total of 939 runs in 14 innings. This equals the previous record set by Kohli and AB de Villiers in IPL 2016 for the most runs scored by a pair in a T20 tournament. Despite Royal Challengers Bangalore narrowly missing out on a playoff spot, their opening duo showcased exceptional performances.

Du Plessis expressed admiration for Kohli and believes that his fellow opener still has a lot to offer in the shortest format of the game. He stated, “Virat has played exceptional cricket throughout the season. It is evident that he has plenty more to offer in T20 cricket, as he continues to perform at a high level.”

Last Updated: May 22, 2023